ACADIA Pharmaceuticals' CEO retires

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals said on Wednesday that Uli Hacksell has retired as CEO and from the board of directors, and that Steve Davis -- executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief business officer -- has been appointed interim CEO.

Hacksell will remain as a special adviser to ACADIA during the transitional period.

“Under Uli’s leadership, ACADIA has grown from a small startup to a fast-growing biopharmaceutical company with innovative drug candidates such as NUPLAZID that has the potential to transform the treatment of psychosis in a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders, “ Leslie Iversen, chairman of ACADIA’S board of directors, said. “We thank Uli for his significant contributions to the company over the last 16 years. His dedication, tenacity, deep knowledge of the CNS space and life-long passion to deliver new drugs that can improve the lives of patients with CNS disorders have benefited ACADIA greatly.”

Davis has more than 20 years of experience at the executive level and more than 20 years of combined experience on the boards of directors of biopharmaceutical companies.

”Steve’s strong operational experience and demonstrated leadership skills will be important as ACADIA moves NUPLAZID toward registration and prepares for the planned launch of NUPLAZID in the United States,” Iversen said.